Robyn L. Anderson

An insurance coverage and ERISA benefit attorney who represents both policyholders and insurers, Robyn brings invaluable perspective and credibility to each coverage case.  

Insurance coverage experience
Robyn handles a broad range of coverage claims under liability and property policies, but she has particular expertise with matters concerning product recalls, food contamination, environmental liability, toxic tort liability, product defect, business interruption, and the London insurance market. Her policyholder work often translates to significant insurance recoveries for her clients. An in-house attorney for an international manufacturer recently described his selection of Robyn as “the best use of outside counsel I’ve ever made.”

In addition to prosecuting coverage claims, Robyn helps clients negotiate effective risk transfers in their business contracts through indemnity and insurance provisions. She also proactively reviews her clients’ insurance portfolios to identify potential areas of concern and helps them negotiate manuscript policy terms when the time comes to purchase a new policy. If a claim triggers coverage under older, missing policies, she helps clients conduct policy archaeology to locate records and evidence of the important historical coverage. 

An author of the hornbook chapter on Environmental Insurance for New Appleman on Insurance Law, Robyn is recognized as a leading insurance lawyer by numerous organizations including Benchmark Litigation and Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers.

ERISA litigation
Robyn also defends employers, ERISA plans and fiduciaries in a wide range of employee benefit litigation. Most recently, Robyn’s work led to the Eighth Circuit’s affirmation (in a 3-0 reversal of the district court) that an ERISA administrator may reasonably rely on objective evidence of limitations and restrictions in disability claims involving subjective symptoms.

Court Memberships

• Kansas
• Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
• U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan 
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

Honors

• Leading Insurance Attorney, Benchmark Litigation, 2010-2011
• Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers “Rising Stars,” 2008-2011

Events

Professional Affiliations

• The Missouri Bar
• Kansas Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute (Life, Health & Disability Committee)

Publications

• “A Food Recall Strikes – Are You Ready?,” Food Safety Magazine, November 2011
• “Environmental Insurance,” New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition, 2010
• “Issues as to the Number of Occurrences Under Comprehensive General Liability Policies,” New Appleman on Insurance: Current Critical Issues in Insurance Law, Spring 2010
• “Environmental Insurance,” Appleman on Insurance Law and Practice, 2nd ed., 2008  
• “Certificates of Insurance” and “Additional Insured” Coverage: Maximize Value and Avoid Pitfalls. The John Liner Review: The Quarterly Review of Advanced Risk Management Strategies, Vol. 22, No. 22. Summer 2008

Presentations

• Insurance Litigation Trends, State of Litigation conference, Kansas City, 2011
• Insurance Litigation Trends, State of Litigation conference, Kansas City, 2010
• Insurance Hot Topics: Practical Advice for Corporate Counsel, 2009
• Additional Insurance Coverage & Certificates of Insurance, Risk Insurance Management Society, Overland Park, Kansas, 2008
• Tips on Handling Insolvent Claims, Risk Insurance Management Society, Springfield, Missouri, 2006